— Service —
Uncontested Louisiana Succession.
Flat fees from $2,500. 14-day average close. All 64 Louisiana parishes. Remote-first.
TL;DR
An uncontested Louisiana succession is the standard flat-fee path: file a Petition for Possession plus a Detailed Descriptive List in the parish of domicile, sign one notarized Verification, and the judge issues the Judgment of Possession. Most uncontested matters close in 14 business days at $2,500-$4,500 flat. No retainer, no hourly billing.
What this costs
Flat fee from $2,500 — quoted up front, no retainer, no hourly billing. Court costs and recording fees billed at cost.
How long this takes
14 business days average from the date we receive complete documentation. Most parishes process uncontested judgments in 3–10 business days; we file electronically.
What is an uncontested Louisiana succession?
What you’ll need to get started
Missing documents are the #1 cause of timeline delays. Gather these before your free consultation — we’ll review what you have and tell you what’s still needed.
- Certified copy of the death certificate (Louisiana Vital Records)
- Original will, if any (look in safe deposit box, attorney’s office, Notarial Archives)
- Names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers for all heirs
- Property deeds or parish tax-assessment records for any real estate
- Account numbers and approximate balances for bank accounts and investments
- Marriage certificate (if decedent was married) and any divorce decrees
- Any matrimonial agreement (prenup/postnup)
An uncontested succession is the legal process of transferring a deceased person’s Louisiana property to their heirs when no one disputes the will, the heirs, or the distribution of assets. The end product is the Judgment of Possession — the court order that banks, title companies, and the Louisiana DMV require before they will transfer accounts, release real estate, or update vehicle titles.
Roughly 90% of Louisiana successions are uncontested. They follow a predictable sequence — which is why we can quote a flat fee, finish in 14 business days, and skip the open-ended hourly billing that traditional firms rely on.
When you need one
- The deceased owned Louisiana real estate (a home, camp, or land) that needs to be sold, refinanced, or retitled
- A bank, brokerage, or insurance company is holding accounts and asking for a Judgment of Possession before releasing them
- The estate exceeds $125,000 (above the threshold for the Small Succession Affidavit)
- The estate includes any immovable property — even fractional mineral interests, regardless of value
Pricing
Flat fees, billed upfront. No retainer, no hourly billing, no surprise invoices.
- Tier 1 (Simple): $2,500 — one property, up to four heirs, single parish.
- Tier 2 (Standard): $3,500–$4,500 — multiple properties or up to eight heirs, multi-parish recording.
- Tier 3 (Complex): from $5,000 — multiple prior marriages, blended families, business interests, or large portfolios.
Court filing fees ($150–$350 depending on parish) are billed at cost — no markup.
Common Scenarios We Handle
The following are representative scenarios within this practice area, not specific past results. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Scenario 1
Single-property intestate
A decedent dies without a will, leaving one Louisiana home and a small number of heirs (typically a surviving spouse and adult children). The path here is the Louisiana Civil Code’s default order — descendants first, ascendants and collaterals next — with the surviving spouse usually receiving usufruct over community property. This is the most common uncontested matter and finishes in 14 business days.
Scenario 2
Testate matter with a notarial will
The decedent left a properly executed Louisiana notarial will naming the heirs and (often) a particular executor. The will is filed with the petition, the court declares it valid, and the Judgment of Possession follows the will’s bequests. Title companies, banks, and the DMV treat the resulting judgment as final.
Scenario 3
Family with forced heirs but a satisfying estate
Forced heirs exist (children under 24 or permanently incapacitated children) but the estate is large enough that the will gives each forced heir at least their legitime. No reduction action is needed; we account for the forced-heir interests in the Judgment of Possession and the matter remains uncontested.
Scenario 4
Retired couple, community home, no debts
One spouse passes away; the surviving spouse and adult children agree on distribution. The home is community property, accounts are jointly titled, and there are no outstanding debts. A standard uncontested filing places the property with usufruct to the surviving spouse and naked ownership to the children.
The 14-day timeline
- Days 1–2: Free consultation, engagement letter, document collection.
- Days 3–4: We draft the Petition for Possession, Detailed Descriptive List of Assets, and Affidavit of Death and Heirship.
- Day 5: You sign one notarized Verification at any notary near you.
- Day 6: We file electronically with the parish court.
- Days 7–12: The judge reviews and signs the Judgment of Possession.
- Days 13–14: Recording in conveyance records and certified copies delivered.
Common questions
What if there is no will?
An intestate succession (no will) follows Louisiana Civil Code default rules — descendants inherit first, then ascendants and collaterals, with the surviving spouse receiving usufruct over community property. The flat-fee, 14-day timeline still applies.
Do I have to come to Louisiana?
No. We handle the matter remotely. You sign one notarized Verification at any notary near you. We appear in court and file electronically.
Do you handle forced heirship?
Every Louisiana succession involving a parent decedent gets a forced-heirship analysis before we file. If forced heirs exist (children under 24 or permanently incapacitated children), we account for them in the Judgment of Possession.
What if the matter becomes contested partway through?
If a dispute emerges, we let you know in writing, give you an honest assessment of options, and quote the next phase upfront. We never bill silently for contested work.
— Ready to start? —
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an uncontested Louisiana succession take?
From complete documents to recorded Judgment of Possession, typically 14 business days. Document-collection delays are the #1 cause of timeline slippage; the court itself usually signs within 7 business days of filing. Multi-parish recordings can add 1-2 days at the end.
What flat fee should I expect?
Tier 1 (one property, up to 4 heirs): $2,500. Tier 2 (multiple properties or 5-8 heirs): $3,500-$4,500. Plus court costs (~$200-$300) and recording fees (~$100-$200 per parish), billed at cost. We quote the full fee in writing before any work begins.
Do all the heirs have to sign?
Each heir signs their own notarized Verification. They can sign separately, in different cities, on different days. We assemble the signed verifications and file once we have all of them. Heirs in different states (or different countries) is routine and adds no cost.
What happens if the deceased’s will turns out to be invalid?
If a will fails – for example, an olographic will that cannot be authenticated – we proceed under intestate succession rules. We notify you immediately, explain the change in distribution, and re-quote the matter in writing if the additional work moves it into a higher tier.
Related from Pelican: How to Open a Succession in Louisiana, How Much Does a Succession Cost?, Orleans Parish Successions, East Baton Rouge Parish Successions, Jefferson Parish Successions.